Anybody here a member of WPrrHS?
Is it usefull to a modeler? Do they answer our question? What else should I know? I know they publish a newsletter but never saw one…
Chris
Use to work for WP, but not a member of the WPHS. Perhaps contacting them at www.wplives.com or wplives.org, a great source for modeling and membership info.
Heres the link to the WP Historical Society website
Unfortunately while it, and the linked associated sites, (Feather River Rail Sociey and Portola Railroad Museum) look nice, they don’t appear, at present, to have much useful info except for the contact page and links. +++Adendem be sure to click on “CONTENTS” There is a link to FAQ and info on where to ask +++
I was a member of the FRRS for a few years. This was before the WPHS was formed. As I understand the organization one can join the WPHS, or at a slightly higher cost join the FRRS. FRRS membership more oriented toward “hands-on” people interested in working on and operating the equipment and helping out at the museum. The WPHS for people with a more “armchair” interest in the WP (history and/or modeling).
FRRS members recieve the “Trainsheet” a regularly published newsletter as well as the “Headlight” an intermittently published magazine. The WPHS members receive the “Headlight”
The “Headlight” is a nice magazine. I am fortunate that several hobbyshops near me stock it, so I have not missed an issue even though I let my membership lapse.
I recommend joining the “wplist” and the “SacNorthern” discussion groups on Yahoo. A lot of knowledgeable people hang out on them.
There is a lot of useful information for modelers in the WP society. They have had special runs of both cars and locomotives in HO scale. Just recently announced is a GP-40 in bicentennial paint. If you enjoy modeling the WP I don’t know where you would find a better source of prototype information, pictures, modeling hints, etc.
I have found the Western Pacific Yahoo-group (wplist) to be very useful as a way of exchanging information and learning more about the WP–I’m not all that familiar with the WP, other than its owned subsidiary the Sacramento Northern, and that running in Sacramento. I remember seeing those weird orange and green trains downtown and on Arden Way when I was a kid, but I was always a bit more of an SP fan back then and never paid that much attention.
And one of these days I’m going to have to make it up to Portola. Rio Vista has some nice WP stuff too, but is primarily fun for the electric fans…
We also have a convention each year, this year it is in Tracy California. Contact me if you are interested!
The Yahoo group is probably more helpful than the Historical Society as to questions… basicly the same guys but they answer emails .
WP Steve